A woman in her 50s has been flown to hospital in Carlisle after she suffered a medical collapse while watching the Gelt Gladiator event near Brampton.

The patient - who is understood to have been a spectator and not a competitor in the popular endurance event - was airlifted by a Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) crew shortly after 2pm today, said a spokesman for the charity.

He confirmed that the crew worked on the woman at the scene with event medics and colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service.

She was flown to The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and her current condition is not known. The event is hugely popular, with competitors flocking to it from across the region and in many cases raising cash for good causes.

One of the teams taking part - including dozens of children - is raising cash for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, inspired by the popular former Carlisle United player Tony Hopper.